We answer various questions about water play for children with autism!

Summer is fast approaching, and when we think of summer, we can't forget about water activities! We've been receiving a lot of advice about water activities, especially during summer vacation.

If your kids really love water, you might have concerns about safety, rules, or transitions. If they really hate water, you might have concerns about how to get them used to it.

Today, we will discuss some things to be careful about when teaching children who love water .

It may sound a little scary, but drowning is reported to be the number one cause of death for children with autism in the United States (Autism Speaks, nd).

Children with autism may lack awareness of water hazards and have limited coping skills in emergencies (Texas ABA Centers, 2023). Furthermore, they often act independently, out of sight of their caregivers at pools and beaches, so a moment of inattention can lead to a fatal accident.

That's why, if you look at the Autism Speaks website, they say, "The sooner the water exposure, the better," and they emphasize the need for various safety systems such as swimming lessons, water safety education, installing fences, and door alarms.

 

Teaching how to play safely in the water

So how can we help children who will be playing in water in various situations in the future? To reduce risky behavior and ensure safety in pools and water areas, the following methods are commonly used.

1. Visualize the water play rules.

There are ways to teach children the rules they need by visualizing them in the form of picture cards, simple songs, or charts that they can understand, such as “Tell someone before getting in the water” or “Don’t go straight into the pool, but sit down and get wet.” Read them out loud repeatedly.

When a child follows a rule set by an adult, if you immediately give them a big compliment or reward them by letting them play in the water they want, their motivation to follow the safety rules will increase! (Texas ABA Centers, 2023)

Checklist created by the Autism Society ( link )

Reference was made to the Pathway Pool website ( link )

2. Set 1-2 goals that your child can achieve independently.

Although your child may still need a lot of guidance from an adult, it is important to give them opportunities to practice by setting goals that they can accomplish more independently.

For example, it would be helpful to set one or two goals for children to learn the skills necessary for safe swimming, such as sitting at the edge of the pool and waiting when given instructions by an adult, or walking slowly, and help them perform these skills independently.

If you help with the visual aids mentioned in #1, children will be able to accept and understand the safety rules much better :)

3. Things you should always be careful about!!

Are you always wearing a swim vest that allows your child to float? While it's important for both adults and children to wear a swim vest so they can float safely, if your child is not careful, they might think they can always float.

That's why many accidents occur, so you must make sure that your child develops swimming skills so that he or she can float on the water on his or her own without a swimming vest.

Also, some children panic at sounds they don't normally hear (such as a lifeguard's whistle), so it would be a good idea to check what kind of atmosphere the swimming pool your child will be going to has and whether there are any elements that your child needs to get used to in advance.

 

Even 'transitioning' can take practice

From the warm-up time before swimming to the time you leave home, every activity is a series of "transitions" for children with autism. Remember, they may experience significant anxiety at unexpected changes in routine or at the end of a swim.

Since each child may have different areas of discomfort, please find a method that suits your child and use it.

ABA helps you:

1) Use a visual schedule: Visually structure activities before, during, and after swimming to suit your child's needs and let them know in advance what will happen at the pool.

Created by Kate Shepard, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

2) Social Situation Stories: The advantage of social situations is that they can cover a wider range of topics than visual schedules. For children who are more suited to stories, it's helpful to repeatedly expose them to the process of starting and ending a swimming lesson through social situations.

Source: www.teacherspayteachers.com

3) Make the transition easier with rewards: Does your child have trouble going home? Encourage the transition by showing them a visual preview of the reward they'll receive before they go home.

4) Short-term, step-by-step practice: For children who struggle with transitions, it's important to practice shortening the swim time and returning home quickly, even if it's difficult. Start with short swims and repeating the process to get your child used to the process, then gradually increase the time.

 

Let's practice 'this technique' together

1) Communication practice:

- Say "Chase me" or "Play with me" to prevent your child from suddenly disappearing without saying anything.

- Help them say things like "I need a break," "All done," and "I want to get out of here" when they feel overwhelmed by too much stimulation.

2) Waiting Practice:

Waiting skills are always important when interacting with other children and adults. Practice waiting with your child in advance, such as counting while waiting.

3) Practice self-regulation (coping strategies) when you are stressed:

Develop your child's emotional regulation skills, such as breathing, hugging an adult, stretching, or holding onto an object. Helping your child manage their emotions without engaging in risky behaviors when faced with stressful situations will be increasingly helpful as they grow.

 

Today, we learned how swimming can help children develop safety awareness, behavioral control, and adaptability to everyday life . Rather than simply following instructions, it would be helpful to systematically help children develop independent judgment and action.

 

Well then, I'll go back to the "The Kid Who Hates the Pool" part.

Thank you for reading~

Autism Speaks. (n.d.). Swim and Water Safety . https://www.autismspeaks.org/swimming-safety

Texas ABA Centers. (2023). Water Safety for Kids with Autism: 7 ABA Tips . https://www.texasabacenters.com

National Autism Association. (2022). Big Red Safety Toolkit . https://nationalautismassociation.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). Unintentional Drowning: Get the Facts . https://www.cdc.gov

Autism Spectrum News. (2023). Pool Safety and Autism . https://www.autismspectrumnews.org